One of the most widely read literary genres across all media is the psychological thriller. This is particularly true for television and streaming shows, where the episodic format allows producers to really turn up the layered characterisations, the gut-wrenching terror, and the delightful suspense—all of which build to a shocking turn you never expected. Although there are many psychological thriller series on Netflix that span a variety of subgenres, some are ultimately superior to others. For that reason, we’ve put together this comprehensive list of the top psychological thriller series available for streaming on Netflix at the moment.
Searching for more gripping and twisted tales? Check out our lists of the top Netflix thriller and psychological thriller films, the top Netflix supernatural thriller series, or the top Netflix series or films overall.
Editor’s note: Mindhunter was added to this article in January 2025.
Disclaimer: US Netflix offers these titles.
‘Mindhunter’ (2017 – 2019)
In this classic 2010s series, Jonathan Groff plays Holden Ford, who, along with fellow FBI agent Bill Tench (Holt McCallany), transforms our knowledge of serial killers by conducting a program to speak with the worst. Mindhunter’s two Primetime Emmy nominations, which unfortunately ended after only two seasons, don’t fully capture the brilliance of this series, which features a number of career-best performances to go along with some of the best scripts of the previous ten years. Everyone should watch Mindhunter at least once in their lifetime, and there has never been a better moment to begin. – Jake Hodges
‘Baby Reindeer’ (2024)
The drama-thriller miniseries Baby Reindeer, which is based on Scottish comedian Richard Gadd’s autobiographical one-man show, stars Gadd. The seven-episode series, which is based on its star’s personal experience of stalking, tells the tale of a struggling comedian who has to deal with an obsessive woman who stalks him, bringing up painful memories from his past. Gadd, Jessica Gunning, Nava Mau, and Tom Goodman-Hill play the main characters in the series, which was produced by Clerkenwell Films, the same company that made Netflix’s The End of the F***ing World.
When Baby Reindeer debuted on Netflix in April 2024, it immediately made it into the streamer’s Top 10. The series is a sophisticated and masterfully designed program that has won numerous awards, including six Primetime Emmy Awards out of eleven nominations, and has been praised by critics almost universally. It’s a thoroughly absorbing thriller with painful dramatic elements and a dark sense of humor.
‘Ripley’ (2024)
Based on Patricia Highsmith’s Tom Ripley novels, Ripley is an eight-episode miniseries created, written, and directed by Steven Zaillian. The show follows the story of Tom Ripley, a New York con man who is sent to Italy to convince the prodigal son of a shipping magnate to return to America. However, Tom’s employers and new acquaintances fail to grasp just how far he would go to get what he wants. The series stars Dakota Fanning, Johnny Flynn, and Eliot Sumner, with Andrew Scott as Tom Ripley.
Ripley premiered in April 2024 to critical and audience acclaim, receiving praise for its writing, directing, cinematography, and performances. A gorgeous black-and-white production with a delightfully noir style, Ripley’s twisted story is further elevated by its breathtaking cinematography. The show takes its inspirations from classic Italian cinema and Renaissance art, creating a truly stunning visual experience. The series went on to receive 13 Emmy nominations, winning awards for direction, sound, visual effects, and cinematography.
‘You’ (2018 – Present)
Based on the books by Caroline Kepnes, You was originally a Lifetime thriller series before it became a global Netflix phenomenon. Developed by Greg Berlanti and Sera Gamble, the comedy follows Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley), a dangerously charming and very obsessed man, as he goes to progressively extreme lengths to get close to the individuals he “falls in love” with. Besides Badgley in the lead role, the program has also featured a vast ensemble of actors in supporting roles throughout the course of its four seasons, including Elizabeth Lail, Victoria Pedretti, Jenna Ortega, Shay Mitchell, Tati Gabrielle, Lukas Gage, and more.
You premiered in 2018 and has had four seasons so far, with a fifth and final one on the horizon. The show has regularly been among Netflix’s most popular offerings during its run, and it’s also gotten quite a bit of critical acclaim. Driven by Badgley’s twisted yet endearing performance in the lead role, You is an addictive thriller story that pushes you to question your own biases, as well as the true nature of seemingly “nice guys.”
‘Behind Her Eyes’ (2021)
Created by Steve Lightfoot and directed by Erik Richter Strand, Behind Her Eyes is a limited noir supernatural psychological thriller series. The show chronicles the narrative of a single mother who develops an affair with her new boss while concurrently being lured into an odd friendship with his wife, bringing her into a complex world of secrets. Based on Sarah Pinborough’s eponymous 2017 novel, the series stars Simona Brown, Tom Bateman, Eve Hewson, and Robert Aramayo.
Despite the show’s steamy-sounding concept, Behind Her Eyes earned mainly lukewarm reviews from critics when it launched on Netflix in February 2021, attracting criticism for its scripting. While the premise and characterization have lots of issues, the series has still been hailed for its performances and production. Behind Her Eyes mostly fails to develop its unorthodox love triangle to any degree of satisfaction, but its constant stream of turns makes it just fascinating enough to keep you hooked.
‘Killing Eve’ (2018 – 2022)
Based on the Villanelle novels by Luke Jennings, Killing Eve is a British spy thriller series that follows an intelligence investigator following a homicidal assassin, examining the obsessive relationship that develops between the two. Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer feature as MI5 analyst Eve Polastri and the sociopathic Villanelle, respectively, with Fiona Shaw, Owen McDonnell, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, and more in supporting parts. The series was a four-season program with a new female head writer for each season: Laura Neal for Season 4, Phoebe Waller-Bridge for Season 1, and Emerald Fennell for Season 2.
When it debuted in April 2018, Killing Eve received a lot of praise from both fans and critics. Although the show’s reviews gradually declined, it is still a fun watch. The series, which is anchored by the performances of Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer, is an exciting psychological adventure that offers a female-driven interpretation of spy fiction. Comer received a Primetime Emmy and Oh received a Golden Globe for their performances. All things considered, Killing Eve is a chic, entertaining show with intriguing characters.
‘Inside Man’ (2022)
Developed by Steven Moffat, Inside Man is a four-episode drama thriller originally aired on BBC One. The series covers two intertwining stories, that of a prisoner on death row in America and a woman locked in a cellar in England, with bizarre and unpredictable outcomes. In addition to David Tennant, the cast includes Stanley Tucci, Dolly Wells, Lydia West, Dylan Baker, Lyndsey Marshal, Atkins Estimond, Louis Oliver, and others.
When Inside Man debuted in 2022, it attracted a respectable amount of viewer interest despite receiving a mixed review from critics. The plot of the show is rather ambitious, and not all critics thought it lived up to their expectations. The series has been praised for its outstanding performances, though, and Tennant and Tucci have been praised especially for the gravity they bring to their nuanced roles. In the end, Inside Man is an exciting and dramatic film with a tense but realistic plot and an unexpected sense of humour.
“Yellowjackets” (from 2021 till now)
Yellowjackets, a thriller drama series created by Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson, centres on a high school girls’ football team at two distinct points in their lives: as teenagers in 1996 and as adults in 2021. After a horrific plane disaster in 1996 left the teenagers alone in the Canadian wilderness for 19 months, the show explores the extent they went to to survive and the consequences of their actions today. Sophie Thatcher, Juliette Lewis, Christina Ricci, Melanie Lynskey, Tawny Cypress, Sophie Nélisse, and Jasmin Savoy Brown are among the ensemble cast members of the show.
When Yellowjackets debuted on Showtime in November 2021, it was met with widespread praise from both viewers and reviewers. The plot and performances of the show have received a lot of praise; Melanie Lynskey and Christina Ricci have even been nominated for Emmys. In addition to several other honours, the show was nominated for seven Primetime Emmy Awards in its debut season. The show has now published two seasons, and Season 3 is anticipated to debut in 2025.
‘Bloodline’ (2015 – 2017)
The psychological thriller series Bloodline, written by Todd A. Kessler, Glenn Kessler, and Daniel Zelman, centres around a decent Florida family. A sequence of events that test their allegiances and reveal sinister secrets from their past are set in motion when the clan’s black sheep returns home. Kyle Chandler, Ben Mendelsohn, Linda Cardellini, Sam Shepard, Sissy Spacek, Katie Finneran, John Leguizamo, Andrea Riseborough, and Chloë Sevigny are among the ensemble cast members of the show.
Prior to its Netflix release, Bloodline made its debut at the 2015 Berlin International Film Festival in the Berlinale Special Galas section. The last season of the show, which ran for three seasons overall, was released in 2017. In its first season, the show was praised by critics for its captivating plot, actors, and cinematography. Overall, the show is a fun family drama-thriller with some truly captivating acting, even though reviews for its later seasons were more mixed.
